Harvey Jones Thompson

Harvey Jones Thompson

April 10, 1946 - May 18, 2023

A Traditional Wake will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2023 starting at 7pm at the Bois Forte Government and Services Center. the Traditional Service will be held the next day on Monday, May 22, 2023 at 10:00am, also at the Center.

Harvey Jones Thompson, 77, of Nett Lake passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at his home with his wife by his side.

Harvey was born in Nett Lake MN to William Woodenfrog and Evelyn Thompson. He attended elementary school in Nett Lake and high school in Orr. He furthered his education by attending UMD. Harvey worked as a chemical dependency counselor, and was director of Bois Fort Chemical Dependency Program. He then went on to be an Anishinaabe Language and Culture Teacher for FDL Head Start Programs, FDL Ojibwe School and Cloquet Public Schools. Harvey came back home to teach at the Nett Lake School, where he worked until retiring in 2021. Harvey was proud of his cultural heritage and his ability to teach that to others; he was a 3rd degree Midewiwin.

Harvey enjoyed his tea "piping hot". He liked to cook Dry Mac for his kids. He enjoyed pow wows, watching Minnesota Vikings football games on TV, and listening to old time country music, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and in the last few years, bluegrass. He loved his children, grandchildren, and his wife Rachel very much. He cherished his friendships and extended family. Harvey embodied the Serenity Prayer, even though he didn't say it himself: He had the serenity to accept the things he could not change; the courage to change the things he could, and, usually, the wisdom to know the difference. When he didn't have that wisdom, he looked for it in prayer, by consulting others, and listening. His spirituality and his observance of Anishinaabe culture was the cornerstone of his continuous sobriety since 1985. He will be greatly missed, but remembered with gratitude and love for a very long time.

Harvey was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Denise Thompson; brothers Leonard Thompson and John Thompson; grandsons: Sylis and Lucius.

Harvey is survived by his wife Rachel Thompson; children: Debra Thompson, Kristina Defoe, Patrick Defoe Jr. Karla Bluebird, and Antonio Roy; grandchildren: Bryson, Patrick, Justice, Eliza, Patrick III, Kaylin, Apaulo, Daksyn, Nickole, Karmin, Ziigwin, and Anthony; great-granddaughters: Kyomi and Zela; and aunt Jennie Woodenfrog.

A Traditional Wake will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2023, starting at 7:00pm at the Bois Forte Government and Service Center. The Traditional Service will be held the next day on Monday, May 22, 2023 at 10:00am also at the center.

Traditional Wake

Bois Forte Government and Services Center

Sunday, May 21, 2023

7:00 PM

5344 Lakeshore Drive

Nett Lake, Minnesota 55772

Traditional Native American Service

Bois Forte Government and Services Center

Monday, May 22, 2023

10:00 AM

5344 Lakeshore Drive

Nett Lake, Minnesota 55772